A woman, Belina, staggered before her eyes. Her red hair was tied up in a black net, and despite her soulful stride, an air of elegance remained. She was dressed in black, as if attending a funeral, and there was no one else around her but Evelyn.
“Belina!”
Evelyn called out to her in a gnashing voice. But Belina just kept walking. She climbed further and further up the mountain path into a more secluded area. Her shoes were worn out, her stockings torn, and blood flowed from her bare feet with every step on the sharp stones. Still, Belina didn't stop.
"Belina! Stop! How dare you think this is the place for you?! After killing His Highness the Grand Duke!"
I've seen this place before. Twice.
Once, in a vision, I saw this figure in a hazy vision, the first I ever saw. At the time, I was unaware of Evelyn's existence.
I'd been there once with Julian. This was on the road to Isaac Duchzan's tomb. The scenery was a bit different, but it was definitely there.
Evelyn followed Belina, panting, but couldn't keep up. Unlike her, Belina was walking the mountain path barefoot, without a hint of fatigue.
Finally, Belina arrived at Isaac's grave. Unlike the flower-filled landscape I'd seen in Julia's grave, not a single flower was planted. There was only a neatly mowed lawn and beautifully carved marble. Frankly, it felt bleak and lonely.
Evelyn followed closely behind the muttering Belina.
“...If you... Then you will be cursed...”
Finally, Belina's voice began to be heard. Belina collapsed before Isaac's gravestone, her eyes swaying with silent tears. Belina leaned against the headstone bearing Isaac's name, as if embracing it.
“I told you I would curse you if you betrayed me.”
The tombstone Belina leaned on had this inscription:
"The witch will not disturb your rest."
Did Isaac truly wish to remain undisturbed? The Isaac I saw through Evelyn wasn't like that. In his final moments, even before he closed his eyes, he probably longed to see Belina. Regretting the times he hadn't trusted her, protected her, and treated her coldly until the very end...
But Belina, gazing at the inscription on the tombstone, couldn't have known that. She scanned the text with sad eyes.
“Without you, I would really be like this...”
A black aura began to spread from every blade of grass Belina touched. This aura was turning everything around her pitch black.
But it wasn't a curse. Flowers began to bloom above the dark aura. Hundreds of blossoms covered Isaac's grave. The wind blew, swaying the blossoms, giving the impression of gentle waves. It was a beautiful, yet sad, sight.
Did Belina know why Isaac died? Perhaps that's why she wanted to give him Julia's flowers, even if it was only belatedly. And Evelyn felt a sense of dread at the sight.
'How did that witch know?'
Evelyn's thoughts clearly pierced my mind.
Evelyn hesitated and stepped back, but soon after, the black energy began to rise up her ankles.
“W, what the heck is this...”
"You!"
Belina called out to Evelyn, who was at a loss. When she raised her head, Belina was looking at her with bloodshot eyes.
“You too will not escape this curse!”
Evelyn sprinted backwards before she could finish her sentence. However, the black energy clung to her body, consuming her even faster.
A black aura grabbed Evelyn's ankle.
“Ah!”
Evelyn screamed and fell forward. Belina staggered toward her. Belina watched Evelyn's every move, eyes filled with hatred.
“I can forgive you for framing me.”
“Ha! What am I framing you for? Everyone in the world knows you’re a witch!”
"I wasn't a witch! If you hadn't pushed me so hard, I might still have been a wizard."
“Do you want to say something stupid like, ‘Wizards and witches are different?’”
Evelyn laughed, her face pale and terrified. It was such a repulsive laugh. I wanted to cover my ears. I couldn't believe that this woman was my past life, and I felt guilty for Belina, who had been so ruined.
“I will curse you. You who dared to kill Isaac.”
“I didn’t kill Isaac! Why don’t you curse yourself for being born a witch instead of tormenting an innocent person like me?!”
Belina put her hand on her chest and smiled sadly.
“I already did that.”
"What?"
"I'll be reborn. In a world where Isaac lives. I'll live a life forever falling into the abyss until I meet him again and receive forgiveness."
“Ha, haha! Ahahaha!”
Evelyn swung at Belina with a mad face.
"Forgiveness? Do you think Isaac would forgive you? After turning him into such a hideous being? People call him a monster and won't even approach him! Well, thanks to that, I got to be by his side."
Evelyn stroked her cheek as if she was still in ecstasy, thinking about it again.
"Yes. I was always by his side. From the moment he woke up until he fell asleep... We were just like a married couple. You, on the other hand? You'll never be forgiven. You'll live an eternity crawling at the bottom of the abyss, you vulgar witch!"
Belina said nothing. Her face, as pale as a sheet of paper, was engraved with a resignation, a sense that everything was okay. No, she seemed to dream of being miserable forever.
Belina took a deep breath and reached out to Evelyn. Evelyn tried to avoid it, but a black aura gripped her body.
“Let go of this!”
Evelyn's whole body writhed with anxiety. But there was no way a mere woman could tremble before such immense magic.
“I’ll give you this.”
Belina placed her fingertips on Evelyn's forehead. At that moment, Evelyn's body convulsed violently. The pain spread to me, and I let out a silent scream, writhing my whole body. The rift between fantasy and reality seemed to be shattering, and I could faintly hear Sylvia's voice.
'Your Highness! Your Highness! Come to your senses! Let go of that hand!'
But at some point, the illusion calmed down. My vision was filled with Julia flowers. Evelyn gasped for breath and looked around. Beside her, Belina lay sprawled, coughing up blood. Carefully placing a hand on her neck, she found no pulse.
Belina is dead! That horrible woman! The woman who, following her own curse, will forever be unforgiven and follow the path of the Abyss, is dead!
The joy was fleeting. Evelyn felt a strange energy swirling through her body.
“This is...”
Evelyn could tell. She felt the dark magic of Belina, the curse that had separated her from Isaac and rendered her unable to live among people, had been transferred to her.
Became a witch.
Belina turned Evelyn into a witch.
“Ahhh!”
She clutched her own shoulders and screamed in pain. She could no longer live among people. She could no longer love and be with someone.
Evelyn tried her best to pass on the magic she received from Belina to someone else. However, lacking Belina's exceptional talents, she was unable to achieve the same feat.
Evelyn was lonely until she died of old age, trembling with fear until the very moment she died. She imagined herself being born again in her next life, possessing this black magic, and dying alone...
“But it wasn’t that bad.”
When I came to, I was still holding Abigail's hand.
"Times have changed, and we were born with memories. Hiding our magical powers wasn't a big deal."
Abigail smiled brightly, pushing my hand away. I took a step back from her and muttered.
“...You were Evelyn.”
Sylvia gasped at my words. She was the only person ever heard of Evelyn.
“Because the person who received Belina’s magic was Evelyn.”
I clutched my chest with my pushed hand and calmly collected my thoughts.
“You were showing me. You were showing me Evelyn’s life.”
Abigail chuckled.
“You’re wrong. I was trying to show you Belina’s life.”
“...Belina?”
I bit my lower lip hard. A truth I didn't want to admit was creeping into my mind. I thought I was Evelyn. But Evelyn was Abigail's past life. If that's true, then why did Abigail show me Evelyn's life?
'I will be reborn. In a world where Isaac exists. I will live a life forever falling into the abyss until I meet him again and receive forgiveness.'
Belina's voice, muttering sadly, came to mind. I reflected on my past, the misery I had lived, and the life I had magically returned to. The curse Belina had placed on herself, and Abigail, who had inherited that curse... Every scenario was perfectly in line.
“Is it because I was Belina?”
"Yes! You vulgar witch! The filthy witch who cursed Isaac! How dare you!"
Abigail reached out to grab me by the collar, but Sylvia, with a puzzled expression, swatted her hand away, protecting me.
“Your Highness, are you alright?”
I didn't answer. To be precise, I couldn't answer.
My past life was Belina. I didn't want to be Evelyn, but I didn't want to be Belina either.
“...Please tell me just one thing.”
I already knew the answer, but I couldn't help but ask.
“Is Julian’s past life Isaac?”
Abigail tilted her head. Her silver hair, now dull, hung limply along her neck. She smiled meaningfully, and that was enough for me. I stumbled, gasping for breath. If Sylvia hadn't been there to hold me up, I would have collapsed. I placed my hand on my forehead and muttered.
“I, I to Julian...”
“You put a curse on Isaac. And on Julian.”
Abigail twisted her lips into a smile.
“That’s why you should have accepted it quietly when I introduced you to Marquis Amber.”
“Belina!”
Evelyn called out to her in a gnashing voice. But Belina just kept walking. She climbed further and further up the mountain path into a more secluded area. Her shoes were worn out, her stockings torn, and blood flowed from her bare feet with every step on the sharp stones. Still, Belina didn't stop.
"Belina! Stop! How dare you think this is the place for you?! After killing His Highness the Grand Duke!"
I've seen this place before. Twice.
Once, in a vision, I saw this figure in a hazy vision, the first I ever saw. At the time, I was unaware of Evelyn's existence.
I'd been there once with Julian. This was on the road to Isaac Duchzan's tomb. The scenery was a bit different, but it was definitely there.
Evelyn followed Belina, panting, but couldn't keep up. Unlike her, Belina was walking the mountain path barefoot, without a hint of fatigue.
Finally, Belina arrived at Isaac's grave. Unlike the flower-filled landscape I'd seen in Julia's grave, not a single flower was planted. There was only a neatly mowed lawn and beautifully carved marble. Frankly, it felt bleak and lonely.
Evelyn followed closely behind the muttering Belina.
“...If you... Then you will be cursed...”
Finally, Belina's voice began to be heard. Belina collapsed before Isaac's gravestone, her eyes swaying with silent tears. Belina leaned against the headstone bearing Isaac's name, as if embracing it.
“I told you I would curse you if you betrayed me.”
The tombstone Belina leaned on had this inscription:
"The witch will not disturb your rest."
Did Isaac truly wish to remain undisturbed? The Isaac I saw through Evelyn wasn't like that. In his final moments, even before he closed his eyes, he probably longed to see Belina. Regretting the times he hadn't trusted her, protected her, and treated her coldly until the very end...
But Belina, gazing at the inscription on the tombstone, couldn't have known that. She scanned the text with sad eyes.
“Without you, I would really be like this...”
A black aura began to spread from every blade of grass Belina touched. This aura was turning everything around her pitch black.
But it wasn't a curse. Flowers began to bloom above the dark aura. Hundreds of blossoms covered Isaac's grave. The wind blew, swaying the blossoms, giving the impression of gentle waves. It was a beautiful, yet sad, sight.
Did Belina know why Isaac died? Perhaps that's why she wanted to give him Julia's flowers, even if it was only belatedly. And Evelyn felt a sense of dread at the sight.
'How did that witch know?'
Evelyn's thoughts clearly pierced my mind.
Evelyn hesitated and stepped back, but soon after, the black energy began to rise up her ankles.
“W, what the heck is this...”
"You!"
Belina called out to Evelyn, who was at a loss. When she raised her head, Belina was looking at her with bloodshot eyes.
“You too will not escape this curse!”
Evelyn sprinted backwards before she could finish her sentence. However, the black energy clung to her body, consuming her even faster.
A black aura grabbed Evelyn's ankle.
“Ah!”
Evelyn screamed and fell forward. Belina staggered toward her. Belina watched Evelyn's every move, eyes filled with hatred.
“I can forgive you for framing me.”
“Ha! What am I framing you for? Everyone in the world knows you’re a witch!”
"I wasn't a witch! If you hadn't pushed me so hard, I might still have been a wizard."
“Do you want to say something stupid like, ‘Wizards and witches are different?’”
Evelyn laughed, her face pale and terrified. It was such a repulsive laugh. I wanted to cover my ears. I couldn't believe that this woman was my past life, and I felt guilty for Belina, who had been so ruined.
“I will curse you. You who dared to kill Isaac.”
“I didn’t kill Isaac! Why don’t you curse yourself for being born a witch instead of tormenting an innocent person like me?!”
Belina put her hand on her chest and smiled sadly.
“I already did that.”
"What?"
"I'll be reborn. In a world where Isaac lives. I'll live a life forever falling into the abyss until I meet him again and receive forgiveness."
“Ha, haha! Ahahaha!”
Evelyn swung at Belina with a mad face.
"Forgiveness? Do you think Isaac would forgive you? After turning him into such a hideous being? People call him a monster and won't even approach him! Well, thanks to that, I got to be by his side."
Evelyn stroked her cheek as if she was still in ecstasy, thinking about it again.
"Yes. I was always by his side. From the moment he woke up until he fell asleep... We were just like a married couple. You, on the other hand? You'll never be forgiven. You'll live an eternity crawling at the bottom of the abyss, you vulgar witch!"
Belina said nothing. Her face, as pale as a sheet of paper, was engraved with a resignation, a sense that everything was okay. No, she seemed to dream of being miserable forever.
Belina took a deep breath and reached out to Evelyn. Evelyn tried to avoid it, but a black aura gripped her body.
“Let go of this!”
Evelyn's whole body writhed with anxiety. But there was no way a mere woman could tremble before such immense magic.
“I’ll give you this.”
Belina placed her fingertips on Evelyn's forehead. At that moment, Evelyn's body convulsed violently. The pain spread to me, and I let out a silent scream, writhing my whole body. The rift between fantasy and reality seemed to be shattering, and I could faintly hear Sylvia's voice.
'Your Highness! Your Highness! Come to your senses! Let go of that hand!'
But at some point, the illusion calmed down. My vision was filled with Julia flowers. Evelyn gasped for breath and looked around. Beside her, Belina lay sprawled, coughing up blood. Carefully placing a hand on her neck, she found no pulse.
Belina is dead! That horrible woman! The woman who, following her own curse, will forever be unforgiven and follow the path of the Abyss, is dead!
The joy was fleeting. Evelyn felt a strange energy swirling through her body.
“This is...”
Evelyn could tell. She felt the dark magic of Belina, the curse that had separated her from Isaac and rendered her unable to live among people, had been transferred to her.
Became a witch.
Belina turned Evelyn into a witch.
“Ahhh!”
She clutched her own shoulders and screamed in pain. She could no longer live among people. She could no longer love and be with someone.
Evelyn tried her best to pass on the magic she received from Belina to someone else. However, lacking Belina's exceptional talents, she was unable to achieve the same feat.
Evelyn was lonely until she died of old age, trembling with fear until the very moment she died. She imagined herself being born again in her next life, possessing this black magic, and dying alone...
“But it wasn’t that bad.”
When I came to, I was still holding Abigail's hand.
"Times have changed, and we were born with memories. Hiding our magical powers wasn't a big deal."
Abigail smiled brightly, pushing my hand away. I took a step back from her and muttered.
“...You were Evelyn.”
Sylvia gasped at my words. She was the only person ever heard of Evelyn.
“Because the person who received Belina’s magic was Evelyn.”
I clutched my chest with my pushed hand and calmly collected my thoughts.
“You were showing me. You were showing me Evelyn’s life.”
Abigail chuckled.
“You’re wrong. I was trying to show you Belina’s life.”
“...Belina?”
I bit my lower lip hard. A truth I didn't want to admit was creeping into my mind. I thought I was Evelyn. But Evelyn was Abigail's past life. If that's true, then why did Abigail show me Evelyn's life?
'I will be reborn. In a world where Isaac exists. I will live a life forever falling into the abyss until I meet him again and receive forgiveness.'
Belina's voice, muttering sadly, came to mind. I reflected on my past, the misery I had lived, and the life I had magically returned to. The curse Belina had placed on herself, and Abigail, who had inherited that curse... Every scenario was perfectly in line.
“Is it because I was Belina?”
"Yes! You vulgar witch! The filthy witch who cursed Isaac! How dare you!"
Abigail reached out to grab me by the collar, but Sylvia, with a puzzled expression, swatted her hand away, protecting me.
“Your Highness, are you alright?”
I didn't answer. To be precise, I couldn't answer.
My past life was Belina. I didn't want to be Evelyn, but I didn't want to be Belina either.
“...Please tell me just one thing.”
I already knew the answer, but I couldn't help but ask.
“Is Julian’s past life Isaac?”
Abigail tilted her head. Her silver hair, now dull, hung limply along her neck. She smiled meaningfully, and that was enough for me. I stumbled, gasping for breath. If Sylvia hadn't been there to hold me up, I would have collapsed. I placed my hand on my forehead and muttered.
“I, I to Julian...”
“You put a curse on Isaac. And on Julian.”
Abigail twisted her lips into a smile.
“That’s why you should have accepted it quietly when I introduced you to Marquis Amber.”
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